All About Pocket Knives

This is a old unusual Hobo type tool/knife that I recently acquired from a friend. It measures 4 inches closed. The handles are a nice old vintage smooth bone or ivory. It only has a spoon and no knife/fork etc. The spoon has hallmarks on the back handle portion and are as follows JF & SS BP. Does anyone know what these markings stand for? I am assuming the "SS" may stand for sterling silver but not sure. Also at first I thought it was missing the knife or blade but after looking at it closer there is nowhere for a blade to be attached from what I can see. There is a slot for the spoon handle to fit into on the side of the knife handle. Is this piece fully together or is it missing something like a fork or knife and if so where would it be attached? I am trying to make sure I have general knowledge of this piece in case sometime in the future I decide to sell/trade it so any information provided would be appreciated (mfg date range, approx value etc.). p.s. I have no intentions of selling, this is the kind of stuff I collect (real old stuff!!!) but you never know what the future may bring. Thanks to all in advance for any assistance you can provide.[attachment=5]Willies Ebay Knives 034.JPG[/attachment][attachment=4]Willies Ebay Knives 035.JPG[/attachment][attachment=3]Willies Ebay Knives 033.JPG[/attachment][attachment=2]Willies Ebay Knives 029.JPG[/attachment][attachment=1]Willies Ebay Knives 031.JPG[/attachment][attachment=0]Willies Ebay Knives 032.JPG[/attachment]

http://www.silvercollection.it/SILVERPL ... RKSJJ.html


unidentified maker...english. not sterling...plated.

This is one part of what I refer to(for want of a better term)as a,"picnic set".I have several different ones;a couple of which comprise 3 pieces(knife;fork;spoon)and one that has replaceable blades(fork;spoon;can opener).Also have a couple that come inside an aluminum and glass drinking cup.
The scales on yours may be ivory and the spoon could be silver;it's not an English hallmark though as far as I can tell.Most of the ones I've seen have a crown and a lion as part of the stamp.
Here's a few of mine.

Put a magnet on it. If it sticks you know it is plated.

I don't recognize any of the hall marks either.

Definitely not plated. I forgot about the magnet trick and used a strong magnet and no attraction at all. Someone sent a link for some Hallmarks but I havent had the chance to take a good look at them yet. Maybe they will tell me more about where/when it was manufactured. The pictures dont really do the handles justice. Even with the cracks they just amaze me that back "when" someone had the capabilities to produce a fine handle such as this. This one goes in the "vintage" case. Now if anyone knows where I can get a matching fork and knife let me know. I appreciate everyones responses and if anyone else has any information please send it.

From where I am sitting I believe the spoon is Nickle Silver, just like the bolsters.

The magnet trick is not foolproof, it will not stick to N.S. either.

Those don`t look like English hallmarks, rather they look like the manufacturers or dealers initials.

The English were critical about the hallmarks they used to identify Sterling Silver

Nice folding spoon

Gringo already linked the hallmark site, and you can spend a lot of time there. The BP means plated, and the last S before the BP means Sheffield. It looks like a quality piece to me.

Man, those are some sweet looking hobo sets!